James Franco Starring in Howl

Indie company Werc Werk Works will produce and fully finance Howl, starring James Franco, with filming set to start March 16 in New York City.

Howl centers on the obscenity trial over Allen Ginsberg’s poem, as well as an animated reimagining of the poem itself.

Werc Werk Works CEO Elizabeth Redleaf and president Christine Walker are producing along with Rob Epstein and Jeffrey Friedman of Telling Pictures, who will direct from their own screenplay. Gus Van Sant executive produces.